Cascais & Lisbon
March 10 – 17 /2024
Photography / Plein-Air Painting Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
Sold Out!
We are setting our sights on another return adventure this year, Portugal. From the harbor and rugged coastline of Cascais, to the dynamic city of Lisbon, juxtaposed with the walled town of Obidos, and the stunning structures and palaces in Sintra, this trek has something for everyone. You also have the option of combining this with a Foodie Trek to Spain the following week for an amazing 2 week adventure!
Join us as we showcase the rich history, splendid scenery, amazing food and of course their namesake drink, in Portugal.
From our home base in Cascais, we will set out to explore one of the most diverse regions of Portugal. Where a short stroll from our 4 star accommodation takes you to the crashing ocean waves at Boca do Inferno or to a picturesque lighthouse standing watch or along the defensive walls of a 15th century fort guarding the harbor. All of this before embarking on a leisurely boat cruise, culminating at the city’s dizzying inlaid wavy tile plaza before sampling local cuisine and port.
With some of the most spectacular palaces gathered in one area, Sintra is one of those can’t miss destinations. Where its star attraction, Pena Palace, dazzles with bright colors and fairytale design. Not to be outdone, Monserrate Palace is a visually striking blend of Arabic, gothic and Indian architecture. The Quinta da Regaleria is another must see attraction. With its ornate facade and enchanting gardens filled with gothic turrets, carved gargoyles and hidden tunnels, this is a truly magical setting.
For a change of pace we will take a side trip to the quaint and colorful town of Obidos. This charming Portuguese walled town with narrow cobbled streets, traditional painted houses and medieval castle, is a perfect destination to immerse yourself in Portugal’s history.
Rounding out our adventure is the bustling city of Lisbon. Where the Carmo Convent, know as the church without a ceiling creates a unique visual scene. Lastly we will stop off at one of Lisbon’s most visited sights, Jeronimos Monastery. Its architecture is unlike any other church, demonstrating the wealth in Portugal’s age of exploration.
Niki will conduct the Plein-Air Painting Workshop from different picturesque locations daily, teaching through a combination of demos, discussions, assistance and critiques.
Sessions will be broken into different morning and afternoon locations, with plenty of time in between for shopping, sightseeing or to dine al fresco for a leisurely lunch.
Scott will take the photographers on a daily walking tours where you will have the opportunity to experience Portugal through your lens and to define what you see while achieving your own artistic vision. As with the painters, there will be daily destinations with time allowances for exploring on your own.
So come join us as we take you on an inspirational exploration of Portugal with an emphasis on observation and perception as we help you develop your own style. Admission is limited to 12 participants, so we encourage you to enroll as soon as possible. There will also be space open for non-participating partners at reduced rates on a limited basis.
Workshop includes:
- Hotel for 7 nights – in Cascais (Double occupancy) / (Accommodations are in shared rooms, although a few single rooms may be available at an extra fee)
- Transportation to and from Lisbon airport (LIS) on the day of arrival and departure, as well as all transportation throughout workshop.
- Side trips to Sintra, Obidos & Lisbon
- Sunset Boat cruise
- Wine & Port tasting
- Admission to Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleria Palace, Monserrate Palace , National Palace, Carmo Convent & Jeronimos Monastery
- Emergency Medical Insurance.
- Instruction, guidance, experience and fun.
Your cost for all of this is $3,495 and to reserve a spot, simply send a completed application form (the forms will be provided
by email upon request) along with your deposit of $1,500 per person by 5/13/23, after that date the price goes to $4,095.
A second payment of one half of the remainder after deposit is due by 7/1/23, with a final payment due by 8/12/23. For those wanting a single occupancy room, there will be an additional cost of $850. We can take credit card payments, however it will incur a 3.6% fee.
There is a discount of $350 for participants on the trip not wanting to take the workshop. We will also setup optional events/ classes when available at an additional
cost for participants not interested in the painting/photography sessions. There has to be a minimum of 6 people for the workshop to make. If the 6 person minimum is not met by the 9/16 deadline, all payments will be refunded.
Airfare to the workshop is not included, you are responsible for your own travel arrangements. We will provide transportation from the Lisbon (LIS) airport on March 10 at one appointed time, as well as the return to the airport on March 17 and all transportation throughout the workshop. If your arrival or departure dates or times are different than scheduled transportation times, you are responsible for your own airport transportation.
We also suggest that you arrive a day or two early on the front end to get over jet lag in order to make the most of your Portugal experience. We started doing that years ago and it has made a huge difference.
You also have the option to combine this trip with a Foodie Trek to Spain the following week for a fabulous 2 week adventure for $7,490! This will also include an extra night in a hotel for a down day in between destinations, as well as airfare from Lisbon to Seville. Follow this link to find out more: https://www.arttreks.org/spain-foodie-2024
Our trips, while not overly strenuous do require a reasonable amount of physical fitness. In order to derive the greatest experience from our destinations, we spend a fair amount of time walking within each location. Our goal being that each person should see and experience as much of the culture as possible during our excursions.
In the event of inclement weather during the trip, arrangements will be made for museum visits, etc. Once deposits are received, there will be no refunds for cancellations as trip arrangements will have been made. We suggest trip insurance for travel difficulties or unforeseen illness.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way and we hope that you will be able to join us!
Scott Williams 214-289-8512 / Niki Gulley 214-803-5812
Email Scott at, photoguy@blind-squirrel.org if you are interested in joining us.